Ensemble Opera Diversa introduced a four-part cycle of concerts dedicated to the victorious powers of the Second World War this year. Yesterday its last part took place in the Brno House of Arts – Russian, or Soviet composers, were represented by Dmitri Shostakovich.
Dramaturgist Vladimír Maňas chose only one piece, on the other hand it is so rich in content; it was Symphony no. 14. The theme of death that the whole symphony is based on goes together with war as well as the All Soul's Day which was yesterday. Moreover, it is good to observe another possible layer of this dramaturgy. In his conflicts with the Soviet power Shostakovich used to have, besides the external meanings of his pieces, also other meanings; which were usually hidden in various depths. Symphony no. 14 was also a reaction to the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968; the concert could indirectly reflect the double role of the Red Army and the Soviet Union as such in our history. The audience is not usually interested in these dramaturgical overlaps, but the fact that the programme is not only a result of a deficiency of ideas or interpretation laziness is delightful. In addition, it was a Brno premiere of the piece and late Shostakovich is played little in general.
Symphony no. 14 is actually a cycle of songs to the poems of four poets – Federico García Lorca, Guillaume Apollinaire, Wilhelm Küchelbecker and Rainer Maria Rilke. On the surface it can remind us of Mahler’s The Song of the Earth; there is, however, a direct link to Mussorgsky’s cycle Songs and Dances of Death. The influence of Mussorgsky on the late Shostakovich’s compositions was not insignificant and the fact that Shostakovich occupied himself with Mussorgsky’s works in practice – the instrumentation of Boris Godunov, the reconstruction of Khovanshchina and the instrumentation of the Songs and Dances of Death in 1962 – which was seven years before Symphony no. 14 was composed in 1969. Mussorgsky’s influence is clearly visible in his approach to the setting of the text to music, when the composer does not place emphasis on melodies but for him declamation and the rhythmical flexibility arising from it is the primary focus. Melodies do not form large arches but rather sequences of little intervals. Shostakovich in his compositions naturally uses achievements of music in the 20th century – tone series, i.e. clusters. His music language is, paradoxically, clearer and more accessible to listeners than the first third of his works.
The vocal parts are designed for the soprano and bass; Lucie Kašpárková and Jan Šťáva were singing. They both have been on their own single professional career tracks for a long time, but they have collaborated with EOD for many years and they have participated greatly in the opera activities in the pioneer times of the ensemble. Among the soloists there is also the OK Percussion Duo – the symphony was composed for chamber string orchestra and a large set of percussions and drums, which were played by Martin Opršál and Martin Kleibl.
Symphony no. 14 is a difficult composition, which checks the skill of all orchestra players; instruments usually play in small groups or solo, nobody can hide among the others. The Brno House of Arts's hall is quite small; the audience formed a compact community with the orchestra and there was a great atmosphere at the concert, which highlighted the musical charisma of the composition itself. The voices of both singers were intimately close and the space was overflowing with the sound; the resulting impression of an insistent and deep message was clear. Conductor Gabriela Tardonová based the composition on distinct contrasts of meditative and acute positions. It must be noted, however, that Ensemble Opera Diversa is an orchestra which is associated with decent collective performances rather than an ensemble of proficient soloists required by Shostakovich’s Symphony no. 14. Numerous imperfections could be found in the details. The dramaturgical concept of the evening overbalanced the real interpretation capabilities.
Dmitry Dmitriyevich Shostakovich: Symphony no. 14, opus 135. Music staging – Gabriela Tardonová, Lucie Kašpárková – soprano, Jan Šťáva – bass, Ensemble Opera Diversa, OK Percussion Duo. 2 November 2015, The Brno House of Arts.
